Hunter project set to energise local businesses

Businesses in the Hunter region are receiving help to reduce their energy costs and save money under a new project being funded by revenue from the carbon price. Hunter Business Chamber’s Energy Hunter project was launched yesterday by the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet.

The Energy Hunter project is helping small to medium enterprises in the Hunter area to identify, manage and improve their electricity consumption to become more energy efficient and, ultimately, save money. The project is one the 28 projects funded under round one of the government’s $40 million Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program, funded by the carbon price.

“Hunter Business Chamber is one of the successful recipients from round one and were awarded funding totalling $1,212,000,” Combet said.

“The Energy Hunter project is already engaging with around 500 businesses, through their Living Laboratory program, to complete the City of Newcastle’s ClimateCam Framework, which outlines 14 steps for businesses to undertake in approaching energy efficiency more strategically.”

This includes an innovative program called ‘My success can be your success’, whereby up to 1500 Hunter SMEs can participate in workshops where they will share their experiences and champion solutions and opportunities to other SMEs in the Hunter region.

“This is just one of our very exciting programs to arise from the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program,” Combet said.

The merit-based, competitive grants program provides grants to assist industry associations and non-profits provide practical, tailored energy-efficiency information to small and medium enterprises and community organisations.

Under round one of the program, 28 applications, seeking a total of $20 million, were successful.

“With over 2.1 million businesses in Australia - the vast majority (96%) being small - the grants program represents a great opportunity to build capacity across the nation by providing energy-efficiency information,” Combet said.

Round two of the program recently closed and applications are currently being assessed. Successful grant recipients are expected to be announced in May 2013.